1. My daughter is a squirt this year. Does she have to attend both Squirt pre-season sessions designated for Squirts?

A: No. Pick one session of ice time which best fits your schedule. She can attend both sessions if she wants but we recommend just one session. Pre-season sessions are optional.

2. My son is a full-time goalie. Should he attend his Peewee preseason ice sessions or just the goalie session?

A: We encourage goalies to attend his designated division sessions (in this case Peewee sessions) as well as goalie session. Goalies need skating and edge work too! Plus there will be pucks and shooting. Full-time goalies should attend in full goalie gear. Pre-season sessions are optional.

3. Can you explain the goalie sessions and girls session during pre-season ice?

A: We wanted to set up a session for our goalies to try out any new gear in as relaxed an atmosphere as possible. We are making goalie equipment available to any players at the Squirt level who want to try goalie. The Girls session is also a chance for girls who are new to hockey to come to skate with experienced girl players in the SMS program.

4. My son is a squirt level and interested in playing goalie. Is there equipment for him and goalie clinics for him to attend?

A: Our goalie coordinator will be sending out information about the goalie sessions. We would love to hear from squirt players interested in the goaltender position. Players from the teams without a goalie will have to volunteer to play goalie, much like the players did at the mite level. SMS will supply goalie equipment to each team for the goalie volunteer. SMS will have goalie clinics throughout the season for beginners and experienced goalies.

5. My daughter plays soccer in the fall and she has weekday practice and weekend game. What do I do if it conflicts with hockey?

A: The long hockey season does conflict with other fall (and winter/spring) sports and activities. SMS encourages participation in other sports and recreation with the goal of long term athletic development. Families do the best they can to attend when possible. The key factor is letting the coach know well in advance for planning practices and games. We encourage attendance at practice as much as games. Regular attendance at practice is where you will see the most growth in a player.

6. Can you tell me when her hockey practices and games will be so I can plan our schedule?

A: We generally publish the practice schedule in 3 phases in conjunction with the game schedules from Valley League and NorthStar. We release 3 rounds of the schedule around Labor Day weekend, in late October, and late January. The leagues release their schedule in a similar fashion. We do our best to get each team on the ice for 1-2 sessions per week and you can expect a game or two on the weekend.

7. Where do we practice?

A: SMS rents ice at as many rinks in the area as we can. However, the main rinks are: Navin Arena in Marlboro, Valley Sports Ice Arena in Concord, and Nashoba Valley Olympia in Boxborough.

8. Where are our games played?

A: The VHL plays games all over the 495 and 95 towns. They try to schedule our games close to Sudbury-Maynard-Stow as possible, but some games are in Woburn, Burlington, Haverhill, Lawrence, Chelmsford as well as at NESC. You will find the rink names and addresses at the VHL website.

The NorthStar Hockey League is located in Westborough just off Route 9 West of I495. They have a new name, NorthStar Ice Sports. Our mites play games at this rink.

10. I might need help carpooling with other players. Where can I find this info?

A: You can login to the SMS website and go to your team page and click Roster to see the contact information of players on your team. Unfortunately due to privacy issues, we cannot allow you to see the rosters of the other teams. Attending practice is the best way to meet other parents from other teams and share contact information for car pooling purposes. Contact your Head Coach if you have car pooling issues.

11. In the Squirt Division a lot of kids have mouth guards strapped to their helmets but not in their mouth. My question is do they need to put it in their mouth while they are on the ice?

A. Rule 304(c) in the USA Hockey Rulebook states: “All players, including goalkeepers, in the Pee Wee through Midget (including High School) and in the Girls/Women 12 & under through 19 & under age classifications are required to wear a colored (non-clear) internal mouthpiece that covers all the remaining teeth of one jaw, customarily the upper.”
By the rules, Squirt hockey players are not required to wear mouth guards on the ice. Therefore, even if they have them attached to their facemasks they do not have to wear them in their mouth while on the ice. However, if they choose to insert the mouthpiece, they must wear it correctly as it was designed to be worn (Rule 304(e)).

12. My game jersey lettering is coming off. what do I do to get it fixed?